Electric contact system

ABSTRACT

An electric contact system having spaced stationary contact members and a plurality of platelike double-armed contact members rotatably mounted on a shaft between the stationary contacts and which has driving means for rotating the double-armed contacts. Spring means are provided so that the double-armed contacts may be rotated different degrees so that each double-armed contact will form a wedging contact with the stationary contact members.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Harald Strubin Neuenhoi, Switzerland [21] Appl. No. 68,681 [22] Filed Sept. 1, 1970 [45] Patented Nov. 30, 1971 731 Assignee Aktiengesellschaft Brown, Boveri & Cie

Baden, Switzerland [32] Priority Sept. 22, 1969 [3 3 1 Switzerland [31 14259/69 [54] ELECTRIC CONTACT SYSTEM 5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 200/166 E, 200/ 1 70 A [51] Int. Cl H01h 1/32 [50] Field of Search 200/166 E, 166F,11 11,1701 170A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,127,491 3/1964 Gorman 200/166 E 2,854,553 9/1958 Foti ZOO/166 E 2,830,144 4/1958 Fjellstedt H ZOO/166 E 3,388,225 6/1968 Foti 200/166 E X 3,487,456 12/1969 Wildi ZOO/I66 F FORElGN PATENTS 869,810 6/1961 Great Britain 200/166 E 1,063,680 8/1959 Germany ZOO/166 E Primary Examiner-H. 0. Jones Anorney-Pierce, Scheffler & Parker PATENTEU HUVSO I971 Fig. 2

Fig.7

Harald St FO bI n PM, 5% a PM! Gamma ELECTRIC CONTACT SYSTEM The invention relates to an electric contact system with two spaced stationary contact members and a plurality of doublearmed contact members which are mounted on a rotatable shaft disposed between the stationary contacts. It is known in electric contact systems, for example for isolators, to employ so-called rotating knife contacts, constructed as double-anned contact members and which are operated by a rotating shaft or rotating isolator disposed between the stationary contact members. In known embodiments it is necessary, depending on the desired current carrying capacity, to provide fixed contact members or moving contact members in different embodiments, a feature which results in a substantial complexity in manufacture and in storage,

It is the object of the invention to provide a solution to the problem, the solution offering, with relatively slight complexity, easy adaptation of the aforementioned contact system to different nominal currents. To this end, the invention proposes that the doublearmed contact member be constructed of a plurality of parallel platelike individual contact members which are loosely rotatable on a rotating shaft so as to be movable relative to each other, the said parallel contact members being supported in the make direction by means of individual springs against a driving device, which is fixedly joined to the rotatable shaft and the endfaces of the parallel members in each case forming a wedge contact with the endfaces of the stationary contact members. By contrast to previous solutions, this method provides the advantage by selection of the number of parallel members to select the desired current carrying capacity of the rotating contact member in an uncomplicated manner by the stacking of a greater or lesser number of platelike contact members while the fixed contact members may be constructed as simple block contacts. This provides a relatively compact and space-saving system.

One embodiment of the invention is explained by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an elevation in section of a rotary contact system and FIG. 2 shows a side elevation in section of FIG. 1.

Corresponding parts in both figures are provided with the same reference numeral.

The rotary shaft 3, having two diametrical drive lugs 3a and drive pins 3b fixedly inserted therein is disposed between the block-shaped, fixed contact members, 1,2, the endfaces of which are slightly chamfered. A plurality of double-armed contact members 5, stacked with the interposition of spacer washers 8 (F IG. 2) are loosely disposed on the shaft 3. The individual double-armed contact members 5 are retained together by means of the washer 6 and the circlip 7. The contact members 5 are provided with slot-shaped recesses 5a through which the bolts 3b extend. Furthermore, curved leaf springs 4 are also inserted into the aforementioned recesses by means of which the contact members 5 are driven by the pins 3b in the make direction, that is to say in an anticlockwise direction as seen in HO. 1. In he break direction the members 5 are driven after a brief dead travel by the pins 3b when the pins 3b strike the defining surfaces of the recesses 50 of the members 5. The endfaces of the members 5, adapted to engage with the fixed contact members [,2 in the manner of a pressure contact by a wedging effect, are correspondingly chamfered. Being individually spring-biased, the contact members 5 are able to individually adapt themselves in the engaged position with the fixed contact members 1,2.

lclaim:

1. An electric contact system comprising two spaced apart stationary contact members, a plurality of double-armed parallelly arranged plate like contact members, each said arm being engageable at its end face with a corresponding one of said stationary contact members, a rotatable shaft supporting said double-armed contact members disposed between said stationary contact members, the plurality of double-armed contact members being loosely supported on aid rotatable shaft so as to be rotatabl driven relatively to each other, each arm of each of said doub e-armed contact members being provided with a slotted recess, springs individual to and disposed in each said recess, a driver device fixedly joined to the rotatable shaft for imparting rotatary movement to said doublearmed contact members through said springs when the shaft is rotated whereby the endfaces of the double-armed contact members are adapted in each case to form a wedge contact with the end faces of the stationary contact members.

2. A contact system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said driver device comprises pins extending through the slotted recesses of said double armed contact members to drive the springs disposed in said recesses.

3. A contact system as claimed in claim I wherein said springs are leaf springs.

4. A contact system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end faces of the stationary contact members and the end faces of the double-armed contact members are champfered to provide wedging contact therebetween.

5. A contact system as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising washer elements disposed about said rotatable shaft and between each of said double-armed contact members. 

1. An electric contact system comprising two spaced apart stationary contact members, a plurality of double-armed parallelly arranged platelike contact members, each said arm being engageable at its end face with a corresponding one of said stationary contact members, a rotatable shaft supporting said double-armed contact members disposed between said stationary contact members, the plurality of double-armed contact members being loosely supported on said rotatable shaft so as to be rotatably driven relatively to each other, each arm of each of said double-armed contact members being provided with a slotted recess, springs individual to and disposed in each said recess, a driver device fixedly joined to the rotatable shaft for imparting rotatary movement to said double-armed contact members through said springs when the shaft is rotated whereby the endfaces of the double-armed contact members are adapted in each case to form a wedge contact with the end faces of the stationary contact members.
 2. A contact system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said driver device comprises pins extending through the slotted recesses of said double armed contact members to drive the springs disposed in said recesses.
 3. A contact system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said springs are leaf springs.
 4. A contact system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the end faces of the stationary contact members and the end faces of the double-armed contact members are champfered to provide wedging contact therebetween.
 5. A contact system as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising washer elements disposed about said rotatable shaft and between each of said double-armed contact members. 